Ignition system.



R. VARLEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.17. 1914 Patented D00. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTOR R. VARLE Y.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION F|LED NOV-17. I914 1,164,432. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES INVENTOR Km IKL/LWQA if J (jwd/ 1:1 211. m4) fi RICHARD VARLEY, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 14, 1915'.

Application filed November 17, 1914. Serial No. 872.556.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD VARLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, part of which is formed by the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an electrical system whereby the gaseous charges may be exploded in the cylinders of internal combus tilon engines, such as are used on autovehi- 0 es.

It aims as its primary object to provide an interrelated continuous or battery and alternating current ignition system wherein the continuous current is used preferably for starting of the engine and the alternating current for subsequent operation thereof, and in which I provide for the maintenance of a condition of fixed spark retard and advance; or in which fixed spark retard obtains for starting service and in which there is a normal fixedspark advance condition and also the capacity for usual selective spark adjustment.

To the above end I employ spark producing means having a primary energizing circult controlling whichare a plurality of elements of such character that the circuit is interrupted or closed at a non-variable time or phase productive of retarded sparks and atv a non-variable phase giving advanced sparks, said conditions, in the specific arrangement shown, being brought about by the employment of contact mechanism between which and actuating means there obtains fixed relative disposition. In modifications of this arrangement I so form oneof the contact mechanisms as to obtain, without impairing the fixed condition of spark retard for starting purpose, regular spark ad justment.

Another object is the provision of an ignition system in which the battery or continuous current source maybe brought into and out of connection with the spark producing apparatus by means preferably under control of the alternating current generator employed to energize the ignition circuit.

The above and other objects are obtained by the system shown in the. accompanying drawings, which shall now describe so that my invention will be understood by those skilled in the art, it being premised,-however, that many changes may be made in construction and organization of parts and circuits.

Figure is a diagrammatic view of an ignition system embodying my invention;

'Fig. 2 is a similar view showing switch means associated with engine starting de-' vice, for placing one of the controlling elements and the spark coil or transformer in active battery circuit; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of part of the said system, showing centrifugally actuable. apparatus for controlling the switch means; Fig. 41 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of

said centrifugal apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a' sectional view showing one-half of the device centrifugally extended.

In Fig. 1 the numeral 2 indicates an alternating current generator. of the high frequency type, the same being one of the many types of inductive generator for ignition service on autovehicles. However, I do'notdesire to limit myself to any particular type of generator or means affording a source of or transformer 6 within the circuit of the primary winding 7 of which is switch mechanism 8 and segments 9 of a rotary timer or controller 10 the roller arm or movable contact 11 of which is grounded, as at 12. The device 5 comprises a pair of electromagnets 13 and a pivoted armature 14 allof which are grounded, as at 15, in common withgrounds 3 and 12. The armature 14 is held normally extended from the faces of the magnets 13 by means of a spring blade 16, and yieldably supported from said armature, as by resilient blade 17, is a contact 18 electrically connected to the armature 14 and movable thereby into and out of engagement with a yieldably supported relatively fixed contact 19 connecting with which is a battery or an accumulator 20 in the circuit of which is positively driven interrupter mechanism 21. Said mechanism comprises essentially fixed contact 22 and. movable spring pressed contact lever 23 adapted to be actu- .tacts is arranged a condenser 31.

ated by revoluble cam. 2st of such construction and sotimed or drivennby the engine as to symmetrically or synchronously rock the lever 23 from contactual engagement with contact 22. Connected across the interrupter contacts is the'usual condenser 25. Also intercalated in the primary winding 7' of the transformer 6 isinterrupter mechanism 26 comprising a fixed contact 27 and a contact28 carried'by a spring blade armature 29 arranged in attractive juxtaposition .toa magnetic core 30 which may form part grounded at 12 through the controller 10,

and the other end of which leads to revoluble arm 36 of suitable synchronously driven distributor apparatus 37 the contact segments 38 of which connect to spark plugs (not shown) in the usual manner.

'When' it is desired ,to start the engine switch t is moved .to contact button e. Turning over or cranking ofthe engine shaft drives the generator 2 sufliciently to energize the magnets 13 and attract the armature 14., bringing contact 18 into engagement with contact 19. By reason of the fact that the current traversing the magnet winding, is impulsive or alternating in character the tendency is toward vibratory release" and attraction of the armature, but in as much as the contact 18 is carried by a yieldable blade 17 so that it engages under tension the contact 19 also yieldably supported, such vibratory movement does not disturb the contactual engagement. This engagement of contacts 18 and 19 grounds the battery 20 at 15. It will'be assumed that the timing lever has been shifted to spark retard so that member 35 occupies the position shown with resultant contact of blade 34, with finger 32. Contacts 22 and 23 of the interrupter mechanism will, therefore, bv means of lead 39, be connected in a. battery circuit including transformer wind ing 7 and completed through-grounds 12 and 15 when the controller arm passes to a segment 9. The adjustment of the controller 10- issuch that the roller contact arm-11 passes to a segment 9 at a point in time cormovable contact23, as to separate the contacts 22 and 23 and thereby interrupt the primary circuit of the winding 7, completed through the controller 10, at a pointin time according with the desired period of retard for the spark; interruption of the primary winding inducing a sparking current in the secondary winding 7 as is understood. While the controller 10 establishes the circuit at a pointadvanced in time and therefore before interruption by the interrupter mechanism 21, there is no vibratory dis turbance' of this battery circuit for the reason that it is established around the vibrator armature 29 and its associated contacts. After starting, shifting of the timing lever to spark advance position causes the switch member 35 to move the blade 34 to contact finger 33, cutting out interrupter mechanism \mechanism 26 operatively responds, at a desired advanced period of time, to tremble or vibratorily disturb the alternating current traversing said primary circuit and thereby produce an advanced spark, at the plug through induction of a high potential current in the secondary winding of the transformer. It will be seen that utilization of the battery current is dependent upon activity of the alternating current generator and therefore the battery is immediately brought out of dissipating circuit when the engine-comes to rest. In the specific arrangement shown the vibrating armature 14 also desirably serves to audibly indicate to the chauffeur activity or effective completion of the battery ignition circuit during cranking or turning over of the engine. I

As stated above the switch mechanism8 may'be controlled through manipulation of the usual timin lever. However, I may assoclate said switch mechanism with engine starting means in such manner that the in terrupter mechanism 21 is automatically brought into circuit during the act of starting the engine. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 2' wherein the general systemdescribed above is reproduced, except as hereinafter described. A rotatable engine starting member 40 is provided with a disk 41 which, when the said member 40 is shifted, against the tension of springs 40% into engagement with a cotiperative member 42 connectedto the engine shaft, moves the switch blade 34 into engagementwith finger 32; said switch blade 34 being normally in engagement with finger 33 so that interrupter mechanism 21 is only brought into service at the time of cranking or starting the engine and is immediately brought out of such service upon completion of such starting action and consequent return to inoperative position of the member 40.- In this Fig. 2 I have also indicated the controller mechanism 10 as having its casing or housing ;10 which carries the contact segment 9, relatively shiftable about its operating shaft to advance and retard the spark, as is well understood; the casing being provided with the usual adjusting arm 43 which may connect with the timing lever of the vehicle. It will be seen that this arrangement permits of usual spark adjustment after starting of the engine, without affecting the condition of fixed spark retard PI'B-g vailing by virtue of interrupter mechanism 21. i

In Fig. 3 I show the switch mechanism 8 as being under control of a centrifugal device 44. Part of the diagram of Figs. 1 and 2 is reproduced in this view for the purpose of identification. Switch blade 34: normally contacts with finger 32, so that interrupter mechanism 21 remains, connected in circuit until an insulated nose 45 of the centrifugal member is extended under centrifugal action, intoengagement with switch blade 34 in such manner as to move that member from contact finger 32 to finger 33; the arrangement being such that the nose 45 is immediately extended upon assumption of self-propulsion of the engine and therefore at once cuts out the interrupter mechanism 21 and brings the vibrator mechanism 26 into circuit after starting of the-engine;

The centrifugal switch operating device 44 shown in Fig. 3 is illustrated in larger size in Figs. 4 and 5 and comprises essentially a housing 46 within which are a plurality of ball weights 47 arranged between a spacing member 48, fixed to the casing and positively driven from the engine by a shaft 49, and a skirting member 48 which partially-normally embraces the balls 47, as shown. 'When theballs are thrown outwardly through centrifugal action, they-act upon the skirt portion 50 of said member 48 so as to force it outwardly from the casing oraway from the member 48, the balls bein limited in movement by the wall portion 0 the casing 46.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Le ters Patent is:

1. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus including a circuit, interrupter means and controller means'separate from said interrupter means, for said circuit, for causing delay produr tion of sparks, and contact means, operatively associated with said controller, for causing production of adyance sparks.

2. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus including a circuit, a plurality of contact mechanisms adapted to alternately control said circuit, a-controller, and means" for alternately bringing said mechanisms into and out of operative association with said controller.

3. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus including a circuit, a plurality of contact mechanisms adapted to alternately control said circuit, one of said mechanisms being positively actuated, a controller for periodically closin the circuit, and means for alternately bringing said mechanisms into and out of operative association with the circuit.

4. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, including a transformer, means for connecting. said transformer in a current circuit, means controlling said transformer, for production of sparks having a fixed delay phase, and means controlling the transformer for production of sparks having a relatively advanced phase.

5. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus including a transformer, means for connecting said transformer in a current circuit, means controlling said transformer for the production of delay sparks, and means controlling the transformer for production of advance sparks, one of said means comprising positively driven contact mechanism.

6. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus including a transformer, means for connecting said transformer in a current circuit, means controlling said apparatus for production of delay sparks, and means controlling the apparatus for production ofad- Vance sparks, one of said means comprisingpositively driven contact mechanism and the other of said means including vibrator contact mechanism. g

7. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, positively driven interrupter mechanism for controlling said apparatus for the production of delay sparks, contact mechanism controlling the apparatus for source of alternating current, contact means for intermittently bringing said apparatus into and out of circuit with said source of direct current, and for connecting said second contact mechanism in a circuit with either said source, and means for connecting said controller alternately in circuit with the source of direct current and the source of alternating current.

11. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, a source of energy, a plurality of contact mechanisms one of which is fixed to control said apparatus for the production of delay sparks and another of which is adapted to control the apparatus for the production of advance sparks, and switch means for alternately bringing said contact mechanisms into and out of circuit with the source of energy and the spark producing apparatus.

12. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, a source of energy, a plurality of contact mechanisms one of which is fixed to control said apparatus for the production of delay sparks and another of which is adapted to control the apparatus for the production of advance and delay sparks, and switch means for alternately bringing said contact mechanisms into and out of circuit with the source of energy and the spark producing apparatus. 7

13. In ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, a source of .direct current and a source of alternating current, a plurality of contact mechanisms one of which is fixed to control said apparatus for the production of delay sparks and another of which is adapted to control the apparatus for the production of advance sparks, and means for alternately connecting said contact mechanisms in circuit with the source of direct current and the source of alternating current 14.,111 ignition systems, spark producing apparatus, a. source of direct current and a source-of alternating current, a plurality 0f contact mechanisms one of which is fixed to control said apparatus for the production of delay sparks and another or which is adapted to control the apparatus for the production. of advance and delay sparks, and means for alternately connecting said contact mechanisms in circuit with the source of direct current and the source of alternating current.

lln ignition systems, a transformer having winding, contact mechanism, vibrator mechanism, a controller, and means for bringing the contact mechanism into circuit with the controller and said winding, for production of delay sparks and for bringing the vibrator mechanism in circuit with the controller and said Winding for production of advance sparks.

16. in ignition systems, a transformer having Winding, contact mechanism, vibrator mechanism, a controller, a source of direct current and a source or alternating current, and means for bringing the conso tact mechanism into circuit with a source of current, the controller and said winding, for the production of delay sparks and for bringing the controller, vibrator mechanism and winding in circuit with the said other source of current, .for the production of advance sparks.

17. In electrical systems, a circuit, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, and means energized from said alternating current source, for energizing said circuit from the source of direct current.

18. In electrical systems, spark producing means, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, and means for bringing the spark producing means into and out of circuit with the source of direct current and including means energized from the alternating current source.

19. In electrical systems, spark producing means, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, a circuit adapted to be energized from the alternating current source, and means connected in said circuit, for bringing the spark producing means into and out of circuit with the source of direct current. I

lln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hind.

RICHARD VARLEY.

"Witnesses WILLn'rT CHADWIGK, E. I. CRosWnLL. 

